The Lemonade Stand

The Gift of Work

This past Tuesday, while my wife was at the grocery store with our girls, my 7-year-old daughter saw a bag of lemons and asked if she could have a lemonade stand to help raise money for a puppy that they saw in a pet store. My wife thought it was a good idea, but said that the girls would have to use their own money to purchase the ingredients and do all the work of making the lemonade. Friday night came around and all the plans that we had worked on for the week started into motion. The girls washed, heated, softened, cut and juiced 40 lemons. I thought their little arms were going to fall off!

After that they made the sugar syrup and mixed it all together to make some amazing fresh-squeezed lemonade! We sat down together and figured up how much money we had spent, and divided that by how many glasses of lemonade we could make. Our cost was $.50 per cup (I know, expensive lemons!) I then taught the girls about how to profit from their work and suggested that they sell the lemonade for $1.00 a glass. The next morning we went out to the beach and set up a tent to sell lemonade. In an hour and a half the girls sold every glass that they made and even sold some bottled water as well!

The Gift of Profit

When we got home, we counted up the total sales, added in the tips and there was a whopping $72.00. That blew away any lemonade stand that I ever tried on the sidewalk in front of my house! We took the total and subtracted the $20 that we spent on the ingredients to show the girls that they had $52.00 profit. From there, we split the money between the two of them and then took out 10% for God, 10% for savings and the rest they were allowed to keep.

My children just learned about the wonderful gift of profit! Moms and Dads, you have a great opportunity to teach your children about this, too. It is never too late! Chad Hovind covers this idea in a series called Godonomics. One of God’s gifts to us is the gift of profit. When we profit, it allows us to give, invest and spend. That is how Godonomics works. You produce something, from your production you profit, then you are able to give, invest, and spend. If you have not seen this series yet, you really should. It is an eye-opening look into how God wants an economy to run. Listen to Chad explain it himself.

7 Responses to The Lemonade Stand

Now there’s something I wish that my parents had taught me at a young age… the art of getting off your butt and taking action towards a goal. I learned it on my own, but much later than I would have liked (after high school and college, and partially into my first real full-time job). It’s refreshing to see that good parenting such as this still exists in the world. Keep up the good work, and God bless!

My generation learned it very early in life. I am thanful I had strong Christian parents who instilled this in me despite my rebellious nature.We now have a generation of slackers who will not work and think that others owe them a living. It’s a very sad thing.

Good work by the girls!
And a smart idea with this tithe system. When there are several competing religions, and one has its members give 10% to “God”, i.e. the organization, and other religions do not, then the one with the tithe system will probably be more successful.
Every new member learns the religion from the previous members, but in their own way because of different priorities, circumstances and possible misunderstandings etc. So the religion is mutated a little whenever it transfers to a new mind.
At some point in time, one of those mutations lead to the tithe system and the idea of actively spreading the faith.
Funny how Christianity can thank the principles of evolution for its success.

Jeff, I’d like you think really carefully about what generation you’re calling “slackers”.

If it’s anywhere NEAR close to mine (grew up in the 80’s-90’s), then you are SORELY mistaken. I created and own my own business, have employees and work REALLY hard to support my family in a big city. Nobody OWES me a living, or even a Snickers bar, for that matter. There are TONS of people my age – JUST LIKE ME.

I actually really resent your generalization and think you need to take a wider look at the world around you and realize that it’s not “generational”. There are people like me and there are people who are struggling – in my generation – and I’d it’s probably the same in yours, and in ANY “generation”.

It’s not a “generation” thing, Jeff, and you need to get off your high horse and be a real person like the rest of us.

The Bible reminds us not to be slothful in business. How hard it must have been for Paul to make tents as not to be a financial burden on others. A conservative pundit conjured up an interesting image the other day when she stated there are more and more people riding in the cart and fewer and fewer pulling it. Pretty soon the pullers are going to quit or collapse. I work a low-paying job nearly 50 hours a week and collect a small monthly retirement. I spend wisely and manage to make ends meet. I refuse to be a burden on others. I have food and rainment, therefore I am content. And I have a wonderful family. Lots to be thankful for!

Evan- I certainly meant no disrespect to you. I diidn’t name a specific generation. I don’t see how that would make you upset? Unfortunately there is a generation of children who think just the opposite of you. I see it every day. I am sorry you don’t. I am much older than you are if that helps any.